Safety in Design site visits

What we are looking at

The team is visiting around five Bupa sites, including Croydon, one site in Adelaide and a selection of Victorian sites with different layouts, resident profiles and memory support settings.

• Manual handling: bed access, transfers, hoists, ensuites, equipment storage and space to work.
• Violence and aggression: noise, crowding, sightlines, blind spots, exits and duress systems.
• Memory support: wayfinding, lighting, contrast and outdoor access.

What happens on the day

Two consultants from Opposite, the organisational and clinical psychologists leading this work, will spend around six hours at your site. The visit is planned around your routine so care is not disrupted.

• A short welcome with the General Manager or Clinical Lead.
• A walkthrough of resident rooms, ensuites, corridors, lounges, kitchen, laundry and outdoor areas.
• Observation of everyday tasks such as transfers, where residents and staff are comfortable.
• Room measurements and photos of spaces and equipment.

Talking with your team

The most valuable part of the visit is hearing from the people who do the work. The Opposite team will have short, informal conversations with care staff, nurses, WHS representatives and safety champions about what helps and what gets in the way.

Conversations are confidential and individuals are not identified. Photos are taken only where permitted and never of residents, and the team will follow your site's visitor and infection control requirements.

What we need from your site

• A site contact to confirm the date, timings and arrival details.
• Time with staff: a few people from different roles and shifts for 10 to 20 minutes each.
• Access to a sample of rooms and work areas, including a vacant room if available.
• Guidance on any residents, areas or times to avoid.
• A heads-up to staff, and residents and families where appropriate, that visitors will be on site.
• Any local floor plans, risk assessments or equipment lists, if readily available.

What this will achieve for Bupa

What we learn across the sites will be brought together into practical guidance for Croydon and every future build and refurbishment.

• A Safety in Design blueprint for rooms and work areas.
• A standard equipment list so new homes open fully equipped.
• Visual design standards and a digital tool project teams can plan with.

For our people, this means fewer injuries, less physical strain and calmer environments for residents.